Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “John Wick: Chapter 4”
Even the biggest John Wick fans would probably agree that the series is beginning to run out of gas, but that hasn’t stopped director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves from conjuring up just enough magic to deliver one more exciting installment. Though it runs a bit long at nearly three hours, especially for what little story there actually is, the time flies by for the most part thanks to a great cast and some impressive action. Just when you thought the series had done it all from an action perspective, “Chapter Four” ups the intensity and creativity once again with some wildly enjoyable set pieces, including an all-out demolition derby around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and an incredible top-down shootout involving incendiary shotgun shells that had me rolling on the floor in glee. Granted, the movie has plenty of niggling issues that prevent it from true greatness, but if this really is the final installment in the franchise, it’s a hell of a way to go out.
Extras include a collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” — As someone who grew up in the Nintendo generation, it’s hard not to enjoy “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” for the sugary-sweet nostalgic high that it is. Though the story is pretty generic, and the whole thing feels a bit rushed at times, the excitement of seeing these beloved characters interact on screen is enough to carry it through. Jack Black’s performance as Bowser is without a doubt the highlight of the voice cast, but Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy and Seth Rogen all deliver solid work in their roles. The animation is also incredibly well done — it’s vibrant and colorful and perfectly captures the iconic imagery of the series — while the various references and Easter eggs scattered throughout (including numerous musical cues) enhance the overall experience. Though “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is by no means a great film, it’s a perfectly enjoyable animated adventure for the whole family. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, a “Peaches” lyric video and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“The Pope’s Exorcist” — Loosely inspired by the story of Father Gabriel Amorth, a real-life priest who served as the Vatican’s chief exorcist from 1986 to 2016, this horror film from “Overlord” director Julius Avery is a largely paint-by-numbers exorcism movie that contains all the usual beats of the subgenre. The film’s one saving grace is star Russell Crowe, who brings a cheekiness to the title role that adds some fun to the proceedings. It also serves as a nice reminder that the actor is still capable of delivering good work when he’s in the mood. But while Crowe certainly elevates the material to a degree, “The Pope’s Exorcist” is unable to rise above its lazy plotting to be anything other than simply mediocre. Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Sakra” — It’s been nearly 20 years since Donnie Yen last stepped behind the camera, and if his latest directorial effort is any indication, he probably should have kept it that way because “Sakra” (which he co-directed with frequent collaborator Ka-Wai Kam) is a total dud. It’s actually quite annoying just how stupid this movie manages to be over the course of its bloated runtime. The script is a hot mess, from its overcomplicated story to its irrational character motivations/actions to its lack of clear stakes, while the acting doesn’t fare much better. Though there’s some decent wuxia-styled action scattered throughout, it’s not enough to save “Sakra” from its own self-inflicted wounds. Extras include a making-of featurette. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
